Locally produced food isn’t necessarily better for the environment. But seasonal and local fruit or vegetables probably are. And while your grocery store may tell you where the food was grown, it probably doesn’t tell you how much energy went into growing it.

As a general rule, something that is in season will take much less energy to produce than something out of season. Artificial light and heat aren’t necessary, and hopefully less water is used also.

Many of us here are big iPhone fans (how did you guess?) so I was pleased to discover that the app Seasons ($1.99) now has data for the United States. Tell it where you live and it will tell you what’s in season and whether or not it is grown locally.

If you’ve used the app or know of something similar, then let us know in the comments below!